Ball State was dominated by Middle Tennessee’s Friday starter, Hunter Atkins. Atkins pitched eight innings, allowing just four hits and no runs and striking out seven in the process.

Atkins was dominant. allowed just three different Ball State players to get hits.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the eighth, when the Blue Raiders' Trent Miller was intentionally walked in order to get to Johnny Thomas. Miller then proceeded to steal second, putting himself in scoring position.

Just a few pitches later, Thomas cracked a line drive into center field, where it dropped, allowing Miller to score and tally the only run of the game for either team.

Atkins left the game in the top of the ninth after walking Ball State’s Wes Winkle, the leadoff batter.